The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced the distribution of 20,000 solar-powered lighting systems to rural communities, as part of efforts to ensure stable power supply in the country. This programme which was launched by the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo (photo), at a rural community in Gwagwalada Area in Abuja, saw the distribution of 200 units of the systems in the first batch.

‎According to Osinbajo, given the current power situation, it is impossible for every Nigerian to tap from the national grid, the Guardian reports.

“In September 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari spoke to me about what we could do to very quickly accelerate rural electrification. We had in mind different projects that we could do to bring electricity to many of our rural communities and villages. He was particularly concerned as we spoke about farming and education in the rural areas. How would we be able to get maximum irrigation facilities, maximum facilities for education? How do we maximize these things if we can’t get power to those areas?”, he said.

The Acting president added that renewable energy, particularly solar, appears to be cost-effective and could be distributed very quickly all over the country.

Anita Fatunji